Re: Baldwin Seeks Radioactivity Tests

["Carl Paperiello" <CJP1@nrc.gov>]

Having read the discussions of checking baby teeth for Sr-90, I can find no indication that there are control samples being taken.  Are there controls from areas that match the downwind areas and have had similar fallout but are not located around nuclear facilities?

Are there case controlled studies that match Sr-90 in teeth to various diseases?

There are two issues here.  Is there an increased Sr-90 intake around nuclear power plants and has this increase caused an increase of illness?




>>> sandyfl@earthlink.net 11/4/2000 10:09:04 AM >>>
Baldwin Seeks Radioactivity Tests

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) - Alec Baldwin is asking county 
lawmakers for at least $50,000 to help fund a project that tests 
baby teeth for levels of a radioactive isotope. 

The actor made his request Thursday before a committee of the 
Westchester County Legislature. 

``This contamination is the result of a government program and 
therefore the government should pay for the research to determine 
the level of contamination in the community,'' he said. 

The Tooth Fairy Project tests baby teeth for strontium-90, known 
as a byproduct of nuclear explosions. Baldwin's organization, the 
Radiation and Public Health Project, believes the isotope is being 
emitted at dangerous levels from nuclear power plants, including 
Indian Point plants in Westchester. 

They say studies show the higher the level of strontium-90 in baby 
teeth, the greater their risk of developing cancer before age 5. 

The nuclear industry and some scientists dispute the claims. 

``We know that there isn't enough strontium released from plants to 
do the sort of things that they're talking about,'' said Carl Patrick, 
spokesman for the state Power Authority, which operates one of 
the Indian Point plants. ``We also know that strontium in people's 
teeth comes basically from dairy products and produce.'' 
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